Kanpur couple loses ₹53 lakh after 69 days under ‘digital arrest’ cyber scam

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A retired senior official of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and his wife have fallen victim to an elaborate cyber fraud in Kanpur, allegedly losing close to ₹53 lakh after being psychologically coerced by scammers over a period of 69 days, police officials said.

The couple, residents of Upvan Apartments in the Ranighat locality of Kohna, were reportedly placed under what investigators describe as a prolonged “digital arrest”, during which cybercriminals posed as law enforcement authorities and exercised continuous control over their actions.

According to the FIR lodged at Kohna police station, the accused impersonated officers from the police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They falsely informed the retired official, Ramesh Chandra, a former deputy general manager with UPPCL, that he was implicated in a money laundering case and a fabricated suicide related investigation.

The scammers allegedly threatened the couple with arrest, imprisonment and attachment of property, creating an atmosphere of fear that forced them into compliance. Police said the fraudsters stayed in constant contact with the victims through phone calls and online platforms, issuing strict instructions and isolating them from others.

“They were repeatedly warned not to speak to anyone or step out of their home,” police said. Even after learning that Chandra required regular dialysis due to health complications, the accused continued to pressure him to remain “confined” and follow their directions.

Under sustained psychological pressure and fearing legal consequences, the couple transferred around ₹53 lakh through multiple RTGS transactions to bank accounts shared by the fraudsters during the 69 day period.

Kanpur Cyber Crime officials have launched an investigation and are tracing the accounts used in the fraud. Police said they are working with banks to freeze suspicious accounts and attempt recovery of the money.

Authorities have cautioned the public against cyber scams involving impersonation of law enforcement agencies and urged people to verify such claims independently and report suspicious calls or messages immediately.